United Contractors Magazine April 2024

Page 22

FACING THE CHALLENGES OF

HEALTH

An Industry At Risk APRIL 2024 ISSUE / VOL UME 230 UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG
MENTAL
IN CONSTRUCTION. No More Suck it Up p.6 An Industry At Risk p.22 FACES: UCON’s Southern CA PAC Fundraiser p.30

BAKERSFIELD

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Bakersfield, CA 93314 (661)631-5777

CONCORD

5151 Port Chicago Highway Concord, CA 94520 (925)822-0366

FRESNO

5704 S. Toyota Place Fresno, CA 93275 (559)442-8989

HAYWARD 4125 Breakwater Avenue Hayward, CA 94545 (510)786-9506

RENO 12905 Old Virginia Road Reno, NV 89521 (775)348-0140

SACRAMENTO 8565 Elder Creek Road Sacramento, CA 95828 (916)383-7475

SALT LAKE CITY 1135 S. Pioneer Road Salt Lake City, UT 84104 (801)886-0586

SAN JOSE 2969 Daylight Way San Jose, CA 95111 (408)224-1052

SAN LUIS OBISPO

635 Tank Farm Road San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805)543-0113

TURLOCK

2800 N. Golden State Blvd. Turlock, CA 95382 (209)632-5084

SANTA ROSA

3963 Santa Rosa Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95407 (707)523-2350

SAN FRANCISCO 251 Shaw Road South San Francisco, CA 94080 (415)642-2350

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INFRASTRUCTURE WE BUILD

2024 UNITED CONTRACTORS BOARD OFFICERS

President...................................Kevin Hester, McGuire and Hester

VP/President-Elect.........Kurt Eddy, Pavement Recycling Systems, Inc.

Secretary/Treasurer.......Juan C. Arrequin, Bay Line Cutting & Coring, Inc.

Sec/Treas-Elect.........................Greg Goebel Jr., Goebel Construction, Inc.

UNITED CONTRACTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

KELLY ATTEBERY, F & M BANK; TOM BARR, GHILOTTI BROS., INC.; DALE R. BREEN, MIDSTATE BARRIER, INC.; BRYN BURKE, DEES BURKE

ENGINEERING; SEAN CASTILLO, TORO ENTERPRISES, INC.; RITA VIGILFERGUSON, G & F CONCRETE CUTTING, INC.; GARRETT FRANCIS, NOR-CAL

PIPELINE SERVICES; MICHAEL GATES, DESILVA GATES CONSTRUCTION, LLC; ALAN GUY, ANVIL BUILDERS; MATT LOVINGIER, JMH ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC.; MICHAEL PRLICH, MIKE PRLICH & SONS, INC.;

KEVIN REIMERS, WOODRUFF-SAWYER & CO.

UCON LEADERS | UNITED CONTRACTORS COMMITTEE CHAIRS

ASSOCIATES: KELLY ATTEBERY (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR), F & M BANK. | KEVIN REIMERS (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR-ELECT), WOODRUFF-SAWYER & CO. CALTRANS: MICHAEL GHILOTTI (CHAIR), GHILOTTI BROS., INC. | LEGISLATIVE: ROB LAYNE, (CHAIR), O.C. JONES & SONS, INC. | POLITICAL ACTION (PAC): GEORGE FURNANZ (CHAIR), STACY AND WITBECK, INC.; STEVE CONCANNON (VICE-CHAIR) PAVEMENT RECYCLING SYSTEMS, INC. | SAFETY & INSURANCE: ROBERT SABIN, (CHAIR), MCGUIRE AND HESTER, INC. | SF CITY CONTRACTOR LIAISON: MIKE GHILOTTI (CHAIR), GHILOTTI BROS., INC., MIGUEL GALARZA (CHAIR), YERBA BUENA ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC. | SCHOLARSHIP: TRONY FULLER, (CHAIR), WEST COAST SAND & GRAVEL | REGIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL: MICHAEL PRLICH (CHAIR), MIKE PRLICH & SONS, INC.; GARRETT FRANCIS (CHAIR), NOR-CAL PIPELINE SERVICES

UNITED CONTRACTORS STAFF

MARK BRESLIN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER; EMILY COHEN, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT; TEJEL PATEL, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CEO; URSULA BECKER, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO EVP; VICTOR SELLA, VICE PRESIDENT OF LABOR RELATIONS; CLAY O’NEAL, REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, SOUTHERN CA OPERATIONS; RAY BACA, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; RUBY VARNADORE, SENIOR LABOR CONTRACTS MANAGER; DILPREET MAYALL, LABOR CONTRACTS MANAGER; LUCIA MIXON, CONTRACTOR MEMBER SERVICES, SOUTHERN CA; SANDRA KAYA, ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST; MELISSA GUTWALD, VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS; DENISE RAMIREZ, ONLINE SERVICES MANAGER; EMMY MCCONNELL, SENIOR ACCOUNTANT; MICHELLE HANNIGAN, BOOKKEEPER; GABRIELLE GONZALEZ, OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; ANGELICA GOUIG, DIRECTOR OF EVENTS & EDUCATION; CHRISTINE TRAINA, EVENT MANAGER; RACHEL ORAA, EVENT ASSISTANT; AVANTI MEHTA, EDUCATION ASSISTANT; MICHELLE VEJBY, MARCOM MANAGER; EDDIE BERNACCHI, UCON CHIEF LOBBYIST; CHRISTOPHER LEE, SAFETY CONSULTANT; DREW DELANEY, MIKE BUCKANTZ, REGULATORY CONSULTANTS

APRIL 2024 VOLUME 230

UP FRONT

No More Suck it Up by Mark Breslin | UCON CEO

LABOR

The Vital Role of Employee Assistance Programs in Construction by Dilpreet Mayall | UCON Contracts Manager

Meal & Rest Periods on Construction Jobsites by Victor Sella | UCON VP of Labor Relations

INSIDE THE CAPITOL

United for Impact: 2024 Legislative Briefing and Reception

INDUSTRY HEALTH & WELLNESS

An Industry at Risk: Addressing Mental Health in Construction by Jamin Valdez | Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.

Industry Wellness Resources — Clip & Share

FACES

UCON’s Southern California PAC Fundraiser

APRIL 2024 5
UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG IN THIS ISSUE
United Contractors Magazine (ISSN: 2166-3777) is published monthly, 11x a year, by United Contractors, 17 Crow Canyon Court, Suite 100, San Ramon, CA 94583; 2401 East Katella Ave., Suite 500, Anaheim, CA 92806. Editorial comments, letters, and article submissions are welcomed and encouraged. Correspondence should be directed to the United Contractors office at the above address, by phone at (925) 855-7900, or by e-mail at info@unitedcontractors.org. Reproduction of editorial material in this issue is permitted if accompanied by proper source credit. Periodicals postage paid at San Ramon, CA and other offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: United Contractors Magazine, 17 Crow Canyon Court, Suite 100, San Ramon, CA 94583. © 2024 Published in the U.S.A.
CONTRACTORS
06 10 20 22 30 more inside 36 NEXT-UP Health & Wellness Courses available the rest of 2024 2024 Events Remaining 42 MEMBER NEWS

NO MORE SUCK IT UP

A LITTLE MORE by ALL OF US. A LITTLE MORE for ALL OF US.

I have one. And I bet you do too. Someone in our family and friend circles who is struggling. Someone who is up against it. Someone who is dealing with some form of mental illness and is either working on it, or it is working against them.

In our industry nobody wants to talk about it. “How about those Niners?” is as deep as we want to go, especially on the jobsite. A male oriented industry where wearing your ego on your sleeve and your body armor over your emotions is the norm. Tough business. Tough people. Tough times? Tough shit. Suck it up.

The numbers on this challenge tell a story that we as leaders must act upon;

• 19% of US workers surveyed rate their mental health as poor or fair

• Employees with marginal mental health miss 4x as many days of work

• The highest concentration of those with mental health issues, particularly depression and anxiety are those under 30.

• According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, these issues cost employers $47.5 billion dollars in lost productivity each year.

And that is why construction is always ranked either number one or two each year for occupations where people commit suicide.

6 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG
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Jobsite safety without psychological and emotional safety is hypocritical at best and bad business at worst.

a lot of money on it. Wear your PPE. Lift with your knees. Wear your harness. Secure your ladder. Get that chinstrap for your hardhat. But where is the emotional fall protection? Where is the care and empathy for an industry where so many people are so obviously struggling?

Is safety about rules, compliance and Cal-OSHA or is it about doing the right thing for the man or woman in the workplace? What if the most dangerous hazards are not the ones easily seen or heard?

It is no wonder that construction is up there on the scale of suicide and mental illness. Right at the top with military combat veterans and first responders. Why? Similar cultures. Similar challenges.

Don’t show weakness. Don’t ask for help. Hide vulnerability with humor or silence. Numb it with alcohol or drugs. Pretend it doesn’t exist.

But the truth is that this is not a business issue or impact or cost. It is a matter of human impact and cost. It is incumbent on us as leaders to foster workplace cultures that are more open, considerate and proactive.

It is vital that the employees of our organizations know that they can be open to discuss their challenges, ask for resources or help or offer the same to those that they work with.

Yes I have one in my own family. And you likely do too. It is even likely that many of those of you reading this yourselves have had times of personal struggles. So how about we don’t turn that blind eye to it anymore. How about we accept that safety needs to be more encompassing and humanistic? A focus on the mental health in the workplace and the jobsite is not a heavy lift, it is truly just a little extra effort by all of us, for all of us.

APRIL 2024 7
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THE VITAL ROLE OF EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN CONSTRUCTION

Due to a recent tragic event, the UCON family owes a responsibility to highlight the importance of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) in the construction sector. The heartbreaking loss of a UCON contractor’s family member due to substance abuse is one loss too many, and we encourage our contractors to take full advantage of these substance abuse programs.

These EAP programs, which are accessible to all of our contractors in both Northern and Southern California, are primarily focused on assistance with substance abuse issues. The construction industry faces unique challenges

in ensuring the well-being of its workforce, and EAPs have emerged as a critical resource in addressing these challenges.

Despite being a vital service, the industry struggles with ensuring that these programs are properly utilized by those overcoming substance abuse. Partnering with unions, contractors can become aware of and obtain access to EAP programs to manage these hardships.

These programs are provided at no cost to employees, making them a valuable resource for individuals seeking assistance.

Geographical proximity is also considered in the implementation of EAPs, ensuring that support services are within reasonable reach for all members of the workforce.

Through collaboration between contractors and unions, there is a pathway to enhancing the well-being of workers by making support systems more accessible and effective. We advise our contractors to take advantage of these programs to provide help with managing substance abuse issues.

10 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG
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N. CA EAP PROGRAMS

UNION

Operating Engineers Local No. 3

Laborers

Carpenters 46 Counties

Pile Drivers Local No. 34

Plasterers & Cement Masons

Iron Workers

Teamsters

EAP PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION

OE3 Assistance & Recovery Program (ARP)

ARP: 800-562-3277

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available through Health & Welfare Claremont EAP: 800-834-3773

Member Assistance Program (MAP) available through Health & Welfare

MAP: 800-999-7222 (Employee: Press 1, Employer: Press 2)

MAP available through Health & Welfare Anthem Blue Cross MAP: 800-9997222

EAP available through Health & Welfare Anthem Blue Cross: Number on employee insurance card

EAP available through Health & Welfare Managed Health Network: 800-9777926

Teamsters Assistance Program (TAP)

S. CA EAP PROGRAMS

TAP: 510-562-3600 or 800-2538326 (outside of the Bay Area) Website

UNION EAP PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION

Operating Engineers Local No. 12

Laborers

Carpenters/Pile Drivers

Cement Masons

Iron Workers

Teamsters

Teamsters

Available at employee’s expense through Health & Welfare.

Available through employee health plan – PPO Kaiser or Anthem

Pacific Southwest Administrators Client Services

Available at employee’s expense through Health & Welfare

Available through employee health plan – PPO, Kaiser or Anthem.

Pacific Southwest Administrators Client Services (626) 279-3000

Available through employee health plan – either Kaiser or Anthem

Available through employee health plan – Kaiser, Anthem or HealthNet

EAP available through Health & Welfare Managed Health Network: 800-9777926

Available at employee’s expense through Health & Welfare

Teamsters Assistance Program (TAP)

Available through employee health plan

TAP: 510-562-3600 or 800-2538326 (outside of the Bay Area) Website

APRIL 2024 11

MEAL & REST PERIODS ON CONSTRUCTION JOB SITES Getting Ahead of Your Obligations Before They Get Ahead of You

In construction, there are countless operational constraints that make it challenging for your field employees to meet meal and rest period obligations. Consequently, meal and rest period claims are the most common and costly in the industry because of inconsistent field practices and, at times, false claims.

While the nature of construction can easily be blamed, the difference between contractors who win or lose such claims comes down to your company’s policies and practices. In other words, meal and rest period liabilities are often avoidable, especially if you know how to navigate this issue.

This article explores meal and rest period requirements, what to do when employees aren’t getting their breaks, and contractor best practices, including some fresh guidance on something new to add to your timecards, to help you control this issue before it controls you.

What are the meal period requirements for my field workforce?

According to Wage Order 16 and our collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), non-exempt (hourly) employees are entitled to:

• A 30-minute uninterrupted, unpaid meal period, typically between the 4th and 5th hour of the day.

• A second meal period between the 10th and 12th hours of the day, as applicable.

• During meal breaks, employees must be fully relieved of their job duties and be free to leave the workplace premises. It is critical to ensure that employees are not under any pressure or obligation to work for the full duration of these breaks.

• Some, but not all, construction CBAs permit the waiver of a second meal period, so long as the first meal period was taken.

What are the rest period requirements for my field workforce?

Contractors must provide rest breaks to non-exempt employees. In contrast with meal periods, rest periods are 10 minutes, considered compensable (paid) time, and must be given during the workday to provide employees with a moment off-duty for rest and relaxation.

According to Wage Order 16 and our CBAs, nonexempt (hourly) employees are entitled to:

• A 10-minute paid and uninterrupted rest period for every 4 hours (or a major fraction over 2 hours) of working time. No rest period is required if the workday is less than 3.5 hours. A typical work day of less than 10 hours will trigger the need for two 10-minute rest periods.

• As with meal breaks, employers must ensure that employees are relieved of all job-related duties during rest breaks. Employees should be encouraged to use these breaks for rest, personal activities, or grabbing a snack.

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• Finally, Wage Order 16 and most CBAs allow contractors to “stagger rest periods of on-site construction employees to avoid interruption in the flow of work and to maintain continuous operations” and also allow for “scheduling rest periods to coincide with breaks in the flow of work that occur in the course of the workday.”

What are the rest period requirements for my field workforce?

It is critical to ensure that your employees are getting their meal and rest periods as required under the law and your CBAs. However, naturally there are times when getting those breaks is not possible. In such circumstances, it is essential to pay your employees the required meal and/or rest period penalties when such breaks aren’t afforded to your workers. Unionized contractors must rely on the meal period and rest period penalty rules described in your CBA(s). For non-unionized hourly employees, contractors should refer to the penalties defined under the appropriate

even when your employees don’t get a meal period, you are still required to provide them “an opportunity to eat.” This item is an increasing subject of scrutiny in labor compliance and should not be ignored. We’ll get into this item further below.

Contractor Best Practices

1. Create and Regularly Communicate About Your Company’s Meal & Rest Period Policy

• If your company doesn’t already have a clear meal and rest period policy, connect with UCON or your attorney to create one as soon as possible.

• Issue and periodically re-issue memos to employees, reminding them of your meal and rest period policies, including that they are to advise their foreman, management, or HR right away when they don’t get their meal and rest periods.

Continued on next page

APRIL 2024 13
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2. Engage with Your Employees Actively on Taking Meal & Rest Periods While in the Field

• To the extent possible, have your foreman or other field leadership direct crews on a daily basis regarding what time(s) of day employees are expected to take their meal and rest periods.

• Designate an area where employees are expected to take their meal and/or rest periods when possible.

• Have your foremen or other field leadership check in on a daily basis with their crews to ensure they are getting both their meal and rest periods, making sure to take note and ensure penalty pay when needed.

• When operational issues interfere with taking meal or rest periods as expected, make sure your foremen communicate directly with their crews to take meal and rest periods at the next available opportunity. Be sure they specify when/where that break should occur.

Make taking meal and rest periods part of your daily or weekly tailgate or safety meetings. Don’t forget to document that this policy was discussed in your meeting notes when you do.

Regularly remind employees in these meetings that if they are not getting a meal or rest period, they are to indicate so on their timecards and should also raise the issue immediately with management or HR.

Make Sure Your Timekeeping System Covers Meals, Rest Periods, and the Opportunity to Eat

To the extent possible, use a timekeeping system that allows employees to record their time during the day as it is happening, including in and out times for meal periods. If that’s not possible, make sure each employee signs off daily regarding when they received (or if they didn’t receive) their meal and rest periods that day.

• The “opportunity to eat” is a new suggestion for contractors so employees can identify whether they had the chance to eat even when they may not have received their meal period(s). It’s highly recommended that you

Continued on page 16

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find a way to amend your current timekeeping forms to track this information.

• Do not round time at the beginning or end of shifts or meal periods.

• Consider providing a grace period of up to five minutes on meal periods to allow sufficient time for checking in and out, if needed.

• Employee time records must be retained and archived for at least four years.

• Cover daily meal and rest period requirements in new hire orientations.

4. Document. Document. Document.

• The most common argument in meal/rest period claims is that employees fear raising issues with their direct supervisors. Once again, remind employees in these meetings that if they are not getting a meal or rest period, they are to indicate so on their timecards and should raise the issue immediately with management or HR—document when this reminder is issued in your meeting notes or company correspondence logs.

• Ensure your timecards and timekeeping systems make it easy to track all necessary information to ensure your policies are followed.

• Track and record all your efforts to remind and enforce your meal and rest period policies in the field and through your regular personnel communications to defend against false claims.

• Keep daily job records of what time and where foremen or supervisors directed meal and rest periods to be taken, especially if operational circumstances pushed breaks into early or later parts of the shift.

• If an employee is in a position to waive their second meal period per their CBA rules, make sure they fill out a form confirming they got their first meal period and that they agree to waive their second meal period on their own volition.

Just like safety, taking meals and rest periods should be an essential part of every employee’s workday. That’s not simply because it is required under the law or a CBA, but because it’s about the well-being of your workers.

While there are countless challenges to ensuring all employees get their breaks, it is well worth your time to ensure your company culture, policies, communications, and operations align with this priority. Alternatively, make sure you are compensating employees accordingly when they don’t get their breaks, and make sure that’s a wellcommunicated priority to avoid the false claim factor.

In today’s litigious world, it’s less a matter of if than when a meal and rest period claim will come your way. Contractors commonly pay in the five to seven figure range to settle these claims, all of which are largely avoidable if you follow the above recommendations.

Do you need more information, guidance, or a review of your policies and practices?

Contact UCON Contracts Manager, Dilpreet Mayall – (916) 952-1504 or dmayall@unitedcontractors.org.

You can also reach any member of our team at laborteam@unitedcontractors.org, or (925) 855-7900 with questions on meal and rest periods. Don’t forget to check out these key UCON resources:

• UCON’s Meal & Rest Period Guidelines

• UCON Meal & Rest Period Compliance & FAQ Chart

• UCON’s Union Meal Period Chart –N. CA & S. CA

• UCON’s Union Rest Period Chart –N. CA & S. CA

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United Contractors and the Southern California Laborers recently held an Industry Partners Retreat/ Meeting (Partnering 365 Meeting) in Cabazon, CA, attended by over 40 UCON contractor members, labor staff, and representatives from Laborers leadership. The program focused on relationship-building and discussions, which addressed critical issues and challenges of our industry. Key topics included training, recruitment, and apprenticeship, skilled and trained, and the political landscape. UCON, along with the Laborers Union, will continue working together to create solutions to these issues throughout 2024.

If your company would like to participate or be involved in future meetings, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Victor Sella at vsella@unitedcontractors.org or (510) 362-6959.

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Contributed by UCON’s Labor and Member Services Team

THE CAPITOL

UNITED FOR IMPACT: 2024 LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING AND RECEPTION

Join us on May 20 in Sacramento for a day of impact at UCON’s 2024 Legislative and Elections Briefing, followed by our Annual Legislative Reception. Gain insights into key legislation and critical upcoming elections, as well as an industry-tailored economic forecast and discussion. After the briefings, network with your peers, Agency and Labor leaders, and elected officials from across California.

During the afternoon briefing, attendees will hear from UCON’s government relations and lobbying team about key legislation impacting our members and the industry. You’ll learn about the upcoming November elections and hear about UCON’s strategy to have maximum impact on behalf of our membership. Attendees will also hear from our returning Economist, Mark Schniepp, who will offer a uniquely engaging and informative industry-tailored economic forecast report to help contractors better prepare for the next 2-3 years in the California market.

AGENDA

11:30 am: Registration

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Briefing

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Reception

BRIEFING & RECEPTION TICKETS

Standard: $165 (member) | $265 (non-member)

*Available until 5 pm Wed, May 13

Onsite: $215 (member) | $315 (non-member)

BRIEFING ONLY TICKETS

Standard: $90 (member) | $190 (non-member)

*Available until 5 pm Mon, May 13

Onsite: $140 (member) | $250 (non-member)

20 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG

UCON’S 2024 L EGISL ATIVE AND ELECTIONS BRIEFING & LEGISL ATIVE RECEPTION

Gain insights into key legislation and critical upcoming elections. Afte r, network with industry leaders and elected officials from across California.

Legislative and Elections Briefing 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

UCON’s Legislative Reception 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The Kimpton Sawyer 500 J Street, Sacramento

Register for this day of united industry impact.

APRIL 2024 21
SCAN TO REGISTER

INDUSTRY HEALTH & WELLNESS

AN INDUSTRY AT RISK: ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH IN CONSTRUCTION

This article discusses suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, don’t wait to get help. Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text HELLO to 741741 for free, 24/7, confidential support.

Construction occupations have the highest rates of death by suicide and drug overdose in the United States, and it is increasing. It’s no secret that construction is a tough industry, built by hard-working laborers who put in long hours under tight deadlines in all kinds of working conditions, often while dealing with physical pain and injury. Topics like mental health and wellness aren’t normally a part of workplace conversations in a culture deeply ingrained with the ideals of picking yourself up by your bootstraps.

Now more than ever, there is a critical need for companies to understand and respond to mental health in construction. We’ll cover practical steps you can take as a leader to help improve or even save your employees’ lives.

What’s Behind the Mental Health Crisis in Construction?

Although hard hats are common on jobsites, what happens under them isn’t a normal topic of discussion for many safety managers.

According to the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), approximately 1,000 construction workers die on jobsites each year, and over 5,000 people working in construction die by suicide each year. There are many factors that contribute to this mental health crisis.

• Difficult and varying working conditions.

Construction workers are often in environments where they may face physical strain, seasonal layoffs, severe weather conditions, and long periods away from friends and family. Moving from jobsite to jobsite can create an environment in which workers are not as connected to their families, friends, or a workplace community, often resulting in strains on relationships. In addition, working long or irregular hours can impact sleep patterns, causing sleep deprivation that adds to mental and physical exhaustion.

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• Unhealthy habits as a coping mechanism. Many workers develop bad habits to cope with these issues, like using drugs, alcohol, or opioids. Not only does this contribute to the risk of accidental overdose, but alcohol and opioid use disorders increase the risk of suicidal ideations, attempts, and deaths.

• A hardened culture. The pressure of appearing to have tough skin and just suck it up when difficulties arise leads to not sharing issues for fear of appearing weak. This applies both physically and mentally, leading to overall burnout.

While there’s no PPE for mental health, there are ways companies can help. There is no single cure for the mental health crisis in the construction industry but using a multi-prong approach to address mental health can help increase your program’s effectiveness.

Start Talking

Create a safe culture by spreading awareness and reducing stigma around conversations about addiction,

mental health, and suicide. Find what works best for your employees and their personalities to help them make connections with their team.

Here are some ideas to consider:

• Conduct focus groups of 10–15 people, selecting those who represent critical groups within the company, to discuss mental health issues. They can also help develop ideas to build awareness of the different challenges employees face.

• Perform interviews with all key stakeholders, including company leaders, HR directors, safety directors, and foremen to assess needs, strengths, and readiness or resistance to wellness programs.

Taking time to listen to employees will increase the likelihood of higher buy-in when you are ready to take the next steps of implementation.

Continued on next page

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INDUSTRY HEALTH & WELLNESS

Offer Addiction Support

The nature of construction jobs, like performing repetitive physical tasks, can contribute to substance abuse. Some workers use alcohol, opioids, and other drugs to handle the physical pain they endure, and many workers head to a bar after work to relax and socialize. However, these habits can lead to addiction.

Here are some steps to take:

• Create an environment that allows those struggling with addiction to ask for and be directed to professional help.

• Offer training to management and supervisors on how to identify the signs of substance abuse so they can recognize coworkers who may need help and refer them to resources.

• Be up front about your drug testing program. Explain that it is designed to protect everyone from danger.

• Host alcohol-free events such as group volunteer activities, fantasy sports leagues, and family picnics.

• Develop a substance abuse prevention program. You can find resources and information at drugfreeconstruction.org.

Create a Wellness Program

Mental health benefits haven’t traditionally been widely adopted in the construction industry, but it’s clear there is a need. The good news is there are many ways you can provide resources that fit your team.

• Provide mental health training for managers and supervisors. This group is your front line to observe and connect with direct labor employees, helping to refer them to qualified resources. Programs like Mental Health First Aid offer training courses similar to CPR certification classes.

• Ensure mental health services are easy to access and are the right fit for your team. While many construction workers may shy away from one-on-one help, they

may respond to group therapy with their peers like an online group support session, or virtual mental health coaching resources like Headspace. There are many platforms that are easy to access online, eliminating the need to go to a provider’s office and offering more flexibility in scheduling.

• Review working environments and include mental health awareness in regular safety management reviews.

• Set up crisis support through an employee assistance program (EAP) or crisis management team that focuses on grief and trauma support. Companies like Concern can come in as needed for critical incident briefing.

24 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG

Resources for Employers

A growing number of mental health resources are geared toward the construction industry to help you navigate wellness programs.

• Get Construction Talking

• Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention

• Toolbox Talks

• Construction Working Minds

• Construction Suicide Prevention Resources

• QPR Institute

• LivingWorks

• Mental Health First Aid

Make Wellness a Priority in Construction

Being a good steward toward your employees is more than just a moral decision—it’s also a wise business decision. Workers who are physically and mentally healthy perform better on the job and have fewer accidents compared to

those who are experiencing mental health struggles. In an American Psychological Association survey from April 2023, 20% of respondents said stress led to lower productivity; it can also directly and indirectly affect employee safety. In addition, US workers who rate their mental health as fair or poor report about four times more unplanned absences than their counterparts who had better mental health, according to Gallup.

You wouldn’t send your team to a job without the right tools. Giving them resources to better manage their wellness, both physically and mentally, sets them up for success both on and off the jobsite. Protecting your people protects your business. A forward-thinking benefits consultant can help you assess the available benefit options that offer the most impact for your employees.

Woodruff-Sawyer & Co., one of the largest independently owned insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the US, protects their construction clients’ people and assets. They provide expert counsel and fierce advocacy to safeguard clients against their enterprise risks. www.wsandco.com, a UCON member since 1994.

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UP INDUSTRY HEALTH & WELLNESS Industry Wellness Resources

Online resources and organizations to address workers’ overall wellness—share with your team.

Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention: www.preventconstructionsuicide.com — The name says it all; this nonprofit group, with dozens of industry and union members, is a great place to start if you have questions and/or are new to the topic of emotional wellness. Be sure to click on the “Get Informed” tab where you’ll find Resources, as well as Toolbox Talks.

Man Therapy: www.mantherapy.org

— As this innovative website explains: “Working aged men (25-54 years old) account for the largest number of suicide deaths in the U.S. These men are also the least likely to receive any kind of support. They don’t talk about it with their friends. They don’t share with their family. And they sure as heck don’t seek professional treatment. They are the victims of problematic thinking that says mental health disorders are unmanly signs of weakness.”

Labor Assistance Professionals: www. laborassistanceprofessionals.com — LAP is “dedicated to obtaining comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment and mental health services for our members at a reasonable and fair price. In addition, we advocate for member assistance program development within labor, and for recognition of the key role labor plays from the field’s professional organizations and treatment providers.”

ManKind Project: www.mankindproject.org, and www.mkpusa.org — a global network dedicated to supporting men to make a difference in the lives of others through challenging and rewarding programs for men at every stage of life. They offer leadership training, and focus on experiential learning through group training, self-exploration and more.

Free “Warn Me Labels” and Drug Disposal Envelopes: https://safety.nsc.org/stop-everydaykillers-supplies — The National Safety Council has developed this great no-cost tool. It will send employers free DEA-compliant disposal envelopes so employees can safely get rid of unused prescription meds and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. The NSC also has free “warn me” labels that workers can attach to their insurance cards to remind them to talk to their doctors about the risk of prescription drug abuse.

Downloadable Infographic: Protect Yourself from an Opioid Overdose. This handy infographic from The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) is available for download in PDF and JPEG formats. Vist their website: www.cpwr.com/research/opioidresources, and you’ll find resources, and many other tools and information, including easy to use toolbox talks regarding opioid deaths in construction (English/Spanish).

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention: www.cdc.gov offers handouts outlining non-opioid treatments for chronic pain, as well as posters and other materials for managing your pain and/or minimizing your risk, and much more for both employers and employees.

UCON Resources: Search our Contractor Resources Library (members only) to find substance abuse policies per union craft. For assistance, contact our Labor Team: laborteam@unitedcontractors.org..

clip&share
26 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG
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2024 UCON PAC FUNDRAISING EFFORT KICKS OFF IN ORANGE

Southern California members come together to raise nearly $100,000 for UCON’s Political Action Committee

On April 4th, nearly 70 members and guests came together at the Orange Hill Restaurant in Orange for UCON’s Political Action Committee (PAC) fundraiser, one of two PAC fundraising events this year. The event kicked off the 2024 fundraising effort for UCON’s PAC, which is used to elect and protect pro-industry candidates running in the state Assembly and Senate. Fundraising will continue with the iconic “backyard house party” at UCON CEO Mark Breslin’s home in Alamo on May 30th.

In attendance were special guests, Senator Josh Newman, State Senate Candidate Suzette Valladeras (SD23), Assemblywoman Laurie Davies (AD74), and Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (AD73).

UCON Executive Vice President Emily Cohen spoke to the audience, sharing gratitude for their support, trust and generosity. “The UCON PAC is one of our greatest tools to advance the interests of California’s union contractors of all sizes and scopes, and to help elect candidates who work with us, not against us, to advance our cause and improve your market share.”

The annual UCON PAC Fundraiser was established by UCON’s PAC Committee Members just six years ago with the goal of raising awareness about the importance of UCON’s work to elect candidates, while raising money for our political allies. The event has quickly emerged as one

of the most effective, owner-centric industry fundraiser events in California and has grown into two events—one in southern California and northern California.

Thank you to every member who sponsored and supported this unique and critically important event.

30 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG
Mark Breslin, UCON CEO, Michele Newman, Senator Josh Newman, and Emily Cohen, UCON EVP (LEFT PHOTO) Matt Scott, Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., Victor Sella, UCON VP of Labor Relations, Eric Patterson, Kiewit Infrastructure West Co.; (RIGHT PHOTO) Kurt Kniffin, Stacy and Witbeck, Inc. ( LEFT PHOTO) Assemblywoman Laurie Davies, Dave Sorem, Mike Bubalo Construction Company (UCON PAC Committee Member); (RIGHT PHOTO) Jonathan Valverde, Valverde Construction, Inc., Taka Sakai, Zefiro Corporation, Ahron Valverde, Valverde Construction, Inc.
APRIL 2024 31
(LEFT PHOTO) Brandon Sjulin, Zefiro Corporation, Brandon Pensick, Ferriera Coastal Construction Co.; (RIGHT PHOTO) Junior Hernandez, Marlon Lopez, and Patrick Petrossi from Traffic Management, Inc. (TMI) (LEFT PHOTO) Dominic Sposeto, Vanguard Construction (UCON PAC Committee Member); (RIGHT PHOTO) Clay O’Neal, UCON VP, Southern CA Region, Diego and Carla Villegas, Cell-Crete Corporation Erik Benjamson, Joseph Gonzales, Ryan Johnson, and Nik Boye of JMH Engineering & Construction, Inc. (LEFT PHOTO) Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris; (RIGHT PHOTO) Brandon Lovell, CMC Traffic Control Specialist, LLC/CMC Construction and Ray Baca, UCON Regional Director, Southern CA Bryn Burke, Dees Burke Engineering Constructors, LLC (UCON Board Member), Rita Vigil-Ferguson, G & F Concrete Cutting, Inc. (UCON Board Member, and UCON PAC Committee Member)), Emily Cohen, UCON EVP, and Lucia Mixon, UCON Contractor Member Services, Southern CA (LEFT PHOTO) Steve Concannon, Pavement Recycling Systems, Inc., and UCON PAC Committee Vice Chair; (RIGHT PHOTO) Gina Alvarez, and Jim Nelson of Western Paving Contractors Inc.

Join us for our Northern CA PAC Event on Thursday, May 30th, 2024 at the home of UCON’s CEO, Mark Breslin, in Alamo, CA. Enjoy premium wines, great food, specialty cocktails, and networking with industry leaders in support of UCON’s Political Action Committee WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG/PAC2024

32 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG
Lucia Mixon, UCON Contractor Member Services, Southern CA, Rob Schneider, Dees Burke Engineering Constructors, LLC, Kameron Krause, Mr. Crane, Inc., Dan Ngo, Silverado Contractors, Inc., Kyle Vandenbos, Bayview Demolition Services, Inc. Carol Church, Marina Landscape, Inc. Brendan Slagle, J.F. Shea Construction Company, Inc. Alan Ludwig, Pascal & Ludwig Constructors, Greg Ferguson, and Rita Vigil-Ferguson (UCON Board Member and UCON PAC Committee Member) of G & F Concrete Cutting, Inc. Dave Greco, Teichert Construction Jennifer and Rob Morrow, Morrow Trenchless Jimmy Draper, Shimmick Construction Company, Inc. Jennifer Becker Weidel, Flatiron West, Inc., and Tino Vasquez, Marina Landscape, Inc. Sean Castillo, Toro Enterprises, Inc. (UCON Board Member)

CHAMPION

MIKE BUBALO CONSTRUCTIONCO.,INC. MB

LEADER

ADVOCATE

NEARY LANDSCAPE

APRIL 2024 33
TRAILBLAZER
ORANGE Color PMS 158C / M6 Y97 P GRAY Color PMS 445C ed 446Uncoated C21 M0 Y23 K75 Proces 3 co or ef chest ABOVE POCKET -chrome yel ow -wh e underbase -b ack 4 23 w de 3 color ef ches ABOVE POCKET -chrome ye ow -wh te underbase -b ack 4 w de
andscape construction landscape maintenance landscape architecture erosion control design build Still Growing ® THANK YOU PAC SPONSORS

UP

ENGAGE,

Make 2024 the Year of Development for Success

UCON’s Professional Development programs are available for you and everyone in your company! From the field to the CEO, UCON has a program for you. All members access free or discounted classes as a member benefit—and your employees are our members, too! Share this valuable content with everyone on your team and make sure they take advantage of this opportunity.

UCON’s virtual classes are available on the UCON app–on your mobile device or desktop–giving you access to personal and professional growth while on the go.

UCON LIBRARY: COURSES ON DEMAND

START STREAMING TODAY!

UCON has a library of pre-recorded courses available on our website. While non-members can attend UCON courses live, the recorded versions are available for members only. If there was a class you missed, check with your manager and take it on-demand; or if you are the manager, design a class tract using our available courses.

34 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG
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(925) 606-4433 WWW.SMITHDENISONCO.COM PROUD SILVER SPONSOR

APRIL COURSES

APRIL 11

Five Steps to Fearless Negotiating

Thursday, April 11; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructors: Paul Stout, Power Summit

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

APRIL 16

Overtime & Special Shift Rules (N. CA)

Tuesday, April 16; 12:00pm-1:00pm

Instructor: Victor Sella, United Contractors

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

APRIL 18

Overtime & Special Shift Rules (S. CA)

Thursday, April 18; 12:00pm-1:00pm

Instructor: Victor Sella, United Contractors

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

APRIL 23

Corporate Identity Meets Personal Brand: The Art of Social Selling

Tuesday, April 23; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Eric Anderton, Construction Genius

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

APRIL 25

Psychological Safety

Thursday, April 25; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Bill Treasurer, Giant Leap Consulting

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

APRIL 30

Building Excellence: The Power of Trust in Teams

Tuesday, April 30; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: John Peterson, Threshold Rising

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: Free | Non-member: $100

JUNE 11

SEPTEMBER 19 SHERATON

HOTEL

CA

3

APRIL 2024 35
Continued on next page
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SHERATON FAIRPLEX HOTEL POMONA, CA PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE FROM WITHIN NEW LOCATION! REGISTER YOUR TEAM TODAY!

UP

MAY COURSES

MAY 7 - Transforming a Follower To a Leader

Tuesday, May 7; 12:00pm-1:00pm

Instructor: Cody Miller, MPWR

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: Free | Non-member: $100

HEALTH & WELLNESS COURSES

MAY 2 - Insider Advantage: Mastering the Complexities and Challenges of Internal Leadership Buyouts

Thursday, May 2; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Eric Anderton, Construction Genius

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

MAY 9 - Mastering PLAs and Pre-Jobs

Thursday, May 9; 12:00pm-1:00pm

Instructor: Victor Sella, United Contractors

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

MAY 14 - Up on the High Wire: Cultivating Mental Resiliency to Get Us through Tough Times

Tuesday, May 14; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Sally Spencer-Thomas, United Suicide Survivors International

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

MAY 16 - Mastering the Workers’

Comp Maze: Expert Strategies for Success

Thursday, May 16; 12:00pm-1:00pm

Instructor: Victor Sella, United Contractors

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

MAY 23

Delegation Skills

Thursday, May 23; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Eric Herdman

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: Free | Non-member: $100

APRIL 25 Psychological Safety

Thursday, April 25; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Bill Treasurer, Giant Leap Consulting

Class Style: Virtual |

Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

“Safety is our most important job.” All companies say that. Many even have excellent practices for preventing injuries. But there’s a difference between being a safe company and creating an environment where people feel they can speak without fear, be themselves, and perform their best. Those things require psychological safety. During this workshop you’ll learn about Project Aristotle, a 5-year research study Google did to identify why some of their teams were stellar, and other teams stumbled.

Who Should Attend: Everyone.

36 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG

MAY 14

Up on the High Wire: Cultivating Mental Resiliency to Get Us through Tough Times

Tuesday, May 14; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Sally Spencer-Thomas, United Suicide Survivors International

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

Are we doing enough to invest in mental health and “mental resiliency”? What does it actually mean to be emotionally fit and psychologically hardy? With increasing demands to do more with less and perform with polish, people need coping tools and emotional inoculation to get them through challenges. This keynote looks at the issue of mental wellness and gives participants the tools to help themselves and others sustain a passion for living over the long haul. As a psychologist, mental health advocate, and survivor of her brother’s suicide, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas brings a unique perspective to the topic. From storytelling to discussing the effects of stress on the brain, Sally will help participants know how to stay mentally fit, avoid burnout, and remain focused on wellness. Sally gives participants four key ways to build mental strength, flexibility, and endurance: be bold, belong, be well, and believe.

Who Should Attend: People interested in building skills and awareness to help themselves and others.

JULY 9

Ignite the Fire Within: Mitigating Burnout and Rekindling Passion for Work and Life

Tuesday, July 9; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructor: Sally Spencer-Thomas, United Suicide Survivors International

Class Style: Virtual | Class Limit: Unlimited Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

“Ignite the Fire Within” is a transformative workshop designed to address burnout, helping participants rediscover their passion for work and life. In this engaging session, attendees learn to identify signs of burnout, explore its root causes, and develop six personalized tools for healing and “soul care” for themselves and their teams. The workshop employs a comprehensive workbook that guides participants through self-reflection and soul-care exercises. Through interactive discussions and practical strategies, attendees gain insights into fostering resilience, setting boundaries, and creating a supportive work-life balance. This workshop equips participants with actionable techniques to reignite their inner fire, enhancing well-being, job satisfaction, and overall life fulfillment.

Who Should Attend: People interested in building skills and awareness to help themselves and others.

NOVEMBER 12

You Can’t Fix Your Mental Health with Duct Tape: Why

Burnout Mitigation, Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention are Priorities in SafetyCritical Industries

Tuesday, Nov 12; 2:30pm-4:30pm

Instructors: Sally Spencer Thomas, United Suicide Survivors

International

Class Style: Virtual |

Class Limit: Unlimited

Cost – Member: FREE | Non-member: $100

With humor and storytelling, Dr. Sally makes the case why mental health matters in safety-critical industries, why attention needs to be paid to risk factors and environmental drivers, and what workers can do to help themselves and help others.

Who Should Attend: People interested in building skills and awareness to help themselves and others.

APRIL 2024 37

UP

UCON’S 2024 EVENTS—MAY - NOVEMBER

UCON events are off to a great start this 2024 year—don’t miss out. All event registrations and sponsorships are open on the UCON calendar. Secure your spot before they sell out at www.unitedcontractors.org/calendar.

MONDAY

UNITED FOR IMPACT

The Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, Sacramento

Join us for a day of impact at UCON’s Legislative & Elections Briefing, followed by our Legislative Reception in Sacramento. Gain insights into key legislation and critical upcoming elections, then network with industry leaders and elected officials from across California.

THURSDAY

NORTHERN CA UCON PAC FUNDRAISER

At the home of UCON CEO, Mark Breslin, Alamo

Our northern CA PAC fundraising event—an evening of premium wines, and great food, networking with association and industry leaders to support UCON’s Political Action Committee.

THURSDAY

SCHOLARSHIP THROWDOWN FOR EDUCATION— CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER

Wente Vineyards, Livermore

The Scholarship Throwdown Fundraiser raises money for our Scholarship Program, which has awarded over $500,000 to over 250 deserving students during the past twenty years!

BEACH BASH

The Huntington Beach House, Huntington Beach

UCON’s 3rd Annual Beach Bash—a casual evening of great friends, food, drinks, and music at the beach.

THURSDAY

ANNUAL BBQ & CHILI COOK-OFF

Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton

UCON’s largest industry event provides the opportunity to network with over 1,500 of your peers and create new relationships.

SAL RUBINO GOLF CLASSIC

Bayonet & Black Horse Golf Club, Seaside

This UCON tradition is named for an Associate Member who loved the association almost as much as he loved golf. Grab a foursome and enjoy this scramble-style golf tournament on a beautiful course.

38 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG
MAY 20
MAY 30
JUN 20 THURSDAY JUL 11
AUG 1 FRIDAY SEP 6

THURSDAY

SOUTHERN CA GOLF CLASSIC

Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Mission Viejo

UCON will host its first annual golf tournament in southern CA. Enjoy a day outside on the greens with great food, great fun, and great friends.

SATURDAY

GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY FUNDRAISER

The Claremont Club & Spa, Berkeley

Our Government Advocacy Fundraiser is the biggest fundraising event UCON hosts each year to support our grassroots advocacy efforts. It allows UCON to maintain a presence, voice, and agenda in Sacramento and Washington D.C.

JUNE 20 TH

CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT

SCAN TO REGISTER/ SPONSOR

APRIL 2024 39
26
SEP
NOV
9
Scholarship Program Fundraiser: Thursday, June 20, 2024 Early-bird ticket: $175/member | $275/non-member
pricing expires May 20!)
ticket: $195/member | $295/non-member
Vineyards, Livermore, 5050 Arroyo Road | 1:30pm-6:30pm
UCON’S
(Early-bird
Standard
Wente
40 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG Learn more at woodruffsawyer.com We focus on your risk, so you can focus on your business. Advising and protecting construction companies for over 25 years: WOODRUFF-SAWYER & CO. | CA LICENSE 0329598 | An Assurex Global Partner Insurance Services | Risk Management | Employee Benefits Insurance Surety Risk Management Paving Services Overlay, patch, and New Construction, all paving services. Concrete Work Concrete Parking Lots, driveways, ramps, sidewalks, curbing, ADA concrete. Asphalt Repairs Asphalt repairs to stabilize and extend the life of your pavement. (408) 946-2974 admin@randmpaving.com License #456578 Founded in 1984 Proud Sponsor of United Contractors

THANK YOU TO UCON’S 2024 ANNUAL SPONSORS

APRIL 2024 41
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GOLD PLATINUM SILVER
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Sukut Construction Helps Fight Pediatric Cancer at the Construction vs. Cancer SoCal Event

The Sukut team joined the American Cancer Society (ACS), the largest private, not-for-profit funder of cancer research in the United States. The event is designed to offer kids and families a day of fun and entertainment while raising funds to support the medical advancements to fight pediatric cancer. The donations made by the sponsors help fund cancer research, patient services, and advocacy.

Sukut Construction, a passionate supporter of the cause since 2019, sponsored and attended the event towards the end of last year. Over 500 kids enjoyed games, raffles, prizes, movie characters, live music, a variety of construction equipment, police vehicles, a helicopter, and more. Sukut was joined by a magician who brought a live bunny and a dove and entertained the crowd with his magical tricks. Sukut also coordinated with Quinn Caterpillar to have a wheel loader at the event for the kids to climb into.

To learn more about this one-of-a-kind event with a very meaningful cause and inquire about this year’s 2024 schedule, visit www.cvcsocal2024.givesmart.com. Sukut Construction LLC, www.sukut.com, a UCON member since 2015.

42 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG Have News to Share? Do you have information to share? Is your company working on an interesting project? Send company news, project images, and giving-back stories to Michelle Vejby, UCON’s MarCom Manager, at mvejby@unitedcontractors.org.

Graniterock Joins in for a Day of Service

Coastal Habitat Education and Environmental Reclamation (CHEER) organization joined forces with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for a noble cause – a trash clean-up along Uvas Creek in Gilroy.

The Graniterock team was proud to be part of this initiative, lending a helping hand to the hardworking volunteers. The team assisted with the clean-up efforts and provided snacks and beverages to keep everyone energized throughout the day.

This volunteer event held special significance as it aligned with VFW’s mission to empower veterans to continue serving their local communities long after their military service has ended. By partnering with organizations like CHEER, VFW aims to harness the skills and dedication of veterans to make a positive impact on the environment and society as a whole.

Together, everyone made a difference along the banks of Uvas Creek.

It’s moments like these that are a great reminder of the power of collaboration and the importance of giving back to the places we call home. To learn more, visit the Graniterock blog at www.graniterock. com/blogs, a UCON member since 1995.

In Memory

Frank Palagi Sr.

67-YEAR EMPLOYEE AT GHILOTTI BROS., INC.

It is with extreme sadness that we share the news that Frank Palagi Sr. passed away after having a heart attack on February 13, 2024. Frank was one of the most loyal and dedicated employees Ghilotti Bros., Inc. has ever had. He was 100% GBI, 100% of the time. Frank started as an apprentice in 1956 and worked long hours, nights, and weekends for over 65 years. Frank was an apprentice, a journeyman mason, a foreman, a

superintendent, a general superintendent, a dispatcher of laborers, masons, and carpenters and manager of the backyard (once Dino Ghilotti finally retired from that role after the third attempt) and ultimately VP of Operations. Frank was a mentor to so many in the industry and always took time no matter how busy to help, tutor, support, instruct, educate, or just share his unique and beautiful perspective on life.

Frank is credited for embracing every day with a smile on his face, a song in his heart, and a hop in his step. He and Mario Ghilotti shared such a unique and enjoyable friendship with so many fond memories along the way—especially the toughest assignment of all, driving Mario to the Forty-Niners game without getting a ticket. Frank loved the Forty-Niners. He will be sorely missed by everyone that has known him but especially his co-workers over the years. We ask that those that were fortunate enough to know Frank take a moment to reflect on all the special and enjoyable moments you shared with him along the way. And if you didn’t know him, please reflect kindly on someone that did nothing but give life (and GBI) everything he had… and then some! Ghilotti Bros, Inc., a UCON member since 1995.

APRIL 2024 43

MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES: APRIL

United Contractors would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank the following companies who are celebrating their anniversary of membership with our organization in April:

34 YEARS – 1990

Associate Member:

Volvo Construction

Equipment & Services

Ted Pumphrey

33 YEARS – 1991

Contractor Member:

D’Arcy & Harty Construction, Inc.

Mike D’Arcy

32 YEARS – 1992

Contractor Member:

Conco-West, Inc.

Mike DeRousse

31 YEARS – 1993

Contractor Members:

Bauman Landscape and Construction, Inc.

Mike Bauman

Western Stabilization

Ashley Jeffery

30 YEARS – 1994

Contractor Member:

Nada Pacific

Frank Lorenzen

Associate Member:

Org Metrics

Rob Reaugh

29 YEARS – 1995

Associate Members:

Sweeney Mason LLP

Joseph Sweeney, Esq.

Zurich North America Surety

Samantha Mascarenhas

28 YEARS – 1996

Contractor Member:

O’Grady Paving, Inc.

Tom O’Grady

27 YEARS – 1997

Associate Members:

Herc Rentals Inc.

Mark Hobson

Vulcan Materials Co., Western Division

Trony Fuller

26 YEARS – 1998

Associate Member:

Corrpro Companies, Inc.

Susana Medellin

25 YEARS – 1999

Contractor Member:

Gordon N. Ball, Inc.

Hal Stober

24 YEARS – 2000

Contractor Members:

Allen A. Waggoner Construction, Inc.

Rocky Myers

Knife River Construction - Stockton

Rod Getty

22 YEARS – 2002

Contractor Member:

Oak Grove Construction

Doug Hamilton

Associate Members:

IAT Surety

Lori Bosshart

Rain for Rent

Kassidy Sears

Photo courtesy of Team Ghilotti, Inc.

18 YEARS – 2006

Contractor Member:

Mike Brown Electric Co.

Tiffany Howe

Associate Member:

J.S. Cole Company

Peter Almlie

17 YEARS – 2007

Contractor Members:

Team Ghilotti, Inc.

Kevin Ghilotti

Trinet Construction, Inc.

Nora Hickey

16 YEARS – 2008

Associate Members:

Arrow Tek

Larry Rennacker

California Bank of Commerce

Erik Pierce

DHE Inc. Concrete Equipment Co.

Scott Humphrey

Lockton Companies, LLC

Emily Newell

Rogers Joseph O’Donnell

Joe McGowan

14 YEARS – 2010

Contractor Member:

O’Duffy Construction

James Duffy

11 YEARS – 2013

Contractor Members:

Bay Area Concretes, Inc.

Jonathan Vasquez

KDW Construction, LLC

D.J. Woods

Pipe Tec, Inc.

Tom Vukojevic

10 YEARS – 2014

Associate Member:

Tetra Tech, Inc

Steve Tedesco

9 YEARS – 2015

Associate Member:

Cox, Castle & Nicholson, LLP

John McKenzie

7 YEARS – 2017

Contractor Members:

Alta Group, Inc.

Glenele Obernich

Kordich Construction, Inc.

Todd Kordich

44 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG

6 YEARS – 2018

Contractor Members:

APB General Engineering

Alfred Lee

Moreno Trenching, Ltd.

Jon Moreno

QLM, Inc.

Darrell Qualls, Jr.

5 YEARS – 2019

Contractor Members:

Liffey Electric, Inc.

Patrick (Paddy) White

Sturgeon Electric California LLC

Kevin Nelsen

Teichert Utilities

Tom Griffith

Teichert Waterworks

Tom Griffith

Traffic Management, Inc. (TMI)

Fernando Soriano

William A. Guthridge & Son, Inc.

Richard Lee Guthridge

Associate Member:

DirtMarket LLC

Rob Trujillo

4 YEARS – 2020

Contractor Member:

Daleo Inc.

David Levisay

3 YEARS – 2021

Contractor Members:

Hodge Western Corp.

Alex Hodge

SVG Contractors, Inc.

Scott Helf

Associate Members:

SC Fuels

Jasmine Guiao

Poseidon Resources LLC

Scott Maloni

2 YEARS – 2022

Contractor Members:

D T S Enterprise Inc.

Dain Sorg

Park West Landscape, Inc.

Sarah Gallagher

Park West Rescom, Inc.

Jim Tracy

1 YEAR – 2023

Contractor Members:

Auxilium Construction Resources, Inc.

Ezra Hernandez

Santamaria Concrete Inc.

Alexander Santamaria

Ghilotti Bros and St. Francis Electric JV

Mike Llamas

GSB / Obayashi JV

David Riccitiello

Folsom Dam Constructors

Wahid Tadros

Vortex Marine Construction, Inc.

Blaise Fettig

Associate Members:

California Equipment Company

Charlie Kain-Williams

APRIL 2024 45
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46 WWW.UNITEDCONTRACTORS.ORG
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HASSLE 0 DOWN $ 0 FOR 36 MONTHS 0% *Offer of 0% is for a loan term of 36 months, valid from January 1, 2024 through March 31, 2024 on new compact (compact track loaders, compact wheel loaders, micro/mini excavators, skid steer loaders) and small (backhoe loaders, telehandlers, small track type tractors, small wheel loaders) Cat machines sold by participating Cat dealers to customers in the USA or Canada. The credit of up to $500 USD for CVA purchase can only be applied toward the purchase of a qualifying Cat Customer Value Agreement (CVA). Purchases (both machine and CVA) and machine delivery must occur by March 31, 2024. Offer subject to machine availability and credit approval by Cat Financial. Not all customers will qualify. Amount of the CVA credit cannot exceed the price of the qualifying CVA. CVA must be at least 2yr/1000hr and must include 1-year Preventative Maintenance Parts Kit, TA1 annual Inspection, signed CVA contract, and Product LinkTM. Amount of credit towards CVA is the same for all models. Offer may change without prior notice and cannot be combined with any other offers. Additional terms and conditions will apply. Contact Peterson Cat for details. ©2024 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, LET’S DO THE WORK, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Corporate Yellow,” the “Power Edge” and Cat “Modern Hex” trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. petersoncat.com/bcp-offer 844-349-4353 START BUILDING UP TO $500 TOWARD A CAT ® CVA*
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